Organosilane templates and methods for the synthesis of mesoporous zeolites

A method of forming mesoporous zeolites with tunable physical properties, the method comprising:

• mixing a silicon-containing material, an aluminum-containing material, and at least a quaternary amine to produce a zeolite precursor solution;
• pre-crystallizing the zeolite precursor solution at a pre-crystallization temperature of greater than 125° C. and autogenous pressure to form a pre-crystallized zeolite precursor solution represented by the formation of an amorphous phase in pseudo-steady-state where solid and solution phases approach equilibrium and silicate and aluminosilicate anion distributions are established;
• combining an organosilane mesopore template with the pre-crystallized zeolite precursor solution to produce a zeolite precursor gel;
• crystallizing the zeolite precursor gel to produce a crystalline zeolite intermediate;
• and
• calcining the crystalline zeolite intermediate to produce the mesoporous zeolite,
• wherein the method does not comprise a discrete functionalization step of the zeolite precursor gel before crystallizing the zeolite precursor gel.